The Legislative Chamber of the Federal District has approved a bill authorising the state-owned Banco de Brasília (BRB) to purchase a stake in Banco Master and invest in other financial institutions in Brazil and abroad, Valor reported.
Lawmakers passed the measure in two rounds of voting, with 15 votes in favour and seven against in the first, and 14 to seven in the second.
The proposal, sent under urgent procedures by Governor Ibaneis Rocha, was put to vote after a meeting between district deputies and BRB president Paulo Henrique Costa.
The court had earlier ruled that BRB must secure legislative approval before completing the transaction, which was first announced in March.
Opposition lawmakers criticised the timing of the vote. “We are here defending, first of all, that this billion-real operation to buy Master be discussed with reasonable time, so everyone can understand, including the population,” said Deputy Paula Belmonte.
Deputy Gabriel Magno added: “What we are asking is that we don’t vote today, that we give more time so we can analyse, so we can dialogue with society.”
Costa told reporters the deal had been “highly structured” with audits and contractual safeguards. He said BRB maintains “quite frequent exchanges” with the Central Bank, which must approve the operation.
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